Metallic partition structure



Oct. 28, 1941 J. A. BOHNSACK v METALLIC PARTITION STRUCTURE Filed Oct.1'7, 1938 INVENTOR. B Jo/zn a. 307171155014.

0.3/7 M 7 AT'l lEfii 1 These Z-bars are secured Patented Oct. 28, 1941METALLIC PARTITION STRUCTURE John A. Bohnsack, Cleveland Heights, Ohio,as-

signor to The 1 E. F. Hauserman Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporationof Ohio Application October 17, 1938, Serial No. 235,428

11 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates, as indiated,to metallicpartition structures, but has reference more particularly to partitionsof the flush type.

A primary object of the invention is to pro"- vide a partition embodyingthe us of uprights or verticals to which steel panel halve are removablysecured, and which function also to hold the glass in constructionswherein glazing is employed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a panel unitforpartitions, in which the parts are held in assembled relationshipsolely by means of tie rods and associated securing elements'.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing-and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detailcertain structure em 20- are relatively narrow,

bodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, butone of various structural forms in which the principle of the inventionmay be used.

, In said annexed drawing: 7

Fig. 1 is a'fragmentary front elevation of a partition constructedaccording'to the invention; Fig. 2 is, a horizontal cross-sectionalview, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a horizontalcross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and I s Fig. 4 isa broken vertical cross-sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig.1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing,

the partition comprises-a plurality of panels or' panel units A whichare spaced from each other, as shown, the space between the units beingcovered or filled by means of post caps l, the outer surfaces of whichar flush 'with the outer surfaces of the panel units, so as to presentsubstantially flushwalls.

Each of the panel units A comprises spaced sheet metal plates 2 havinginturned flanges 3 at the vertical edges thereof, such flanges extendingat an acute angle to the plates and te-rminating in rebent flanges 4which are substantially parallel with the plates. Each plate has securedto the rear surface thereof, as by spot welding, a number ofhorizontally extending vertically spaced reinforcing members 5 ofdesired form, which stiffen the plates, and serve, incidentally tosupport vertically extending Z-bars 6.

to the members 5 adjacent each end of the latter, as by welding one legof each bar to said member. The other leg post caps as well as sinc suchflanges may lie in planes parallel with the plates 2, assurancerelation, by means of clips to the flanges M of the adjacent units, suchclips I of each Z-bar is-spaced from the members 5, and is disposed in aplane substantially parallel with that of the plate 2, forming with suchmembers and the flang 4 recesses within which are received theendstiles, verticals or uprights 9.

Each of the uprights 9 is grooved or recessed as at ID for the receptionof the: legs I of the Z-bars 6, the legs I being provided with angularlyextending portions H, which facilitate entry of such legs into saidgroove or recess.

.The uprights 9 are secured to the Z-bars by means of tie-rods ortie-bolts l2 and nuts l3. The tie-rods thus serve to secure the variousparts of eaeh'panel unit in properly assembled relation, it being notedthat in drawing up the tie-rods and nuts, the uprights are automaticallydrawn into properly assembled relation with the other parts of the panelunit and the two halves of each unit are assembled in desired parallelrelation. 'Since the grooves in the uprights as compared with the totalthickness of the panel, the tie-rods themselves serve as clampingelements in holding the two halves of each unit'in assembled relation.

Each panel may, if desired, be filled with an inorganic sound-deadeningmaterial B.

Each of the verticals 9 hasa pair of flanges I4, which extend beyond thevertical edges of the plates 2, and into the'space between the panel vunits, forming seats for the rebent flanges l5 of post caps I. Theflanges l4 thus overlap the the panels themselves, and be accuratelyformed to is had'that when'the post caps are applied, their outersurfaces will be flush with the outer surfaces of such plates.

The units are held in properly spaced, parallel l6, which are securedhaving portions I! which are engagedby the flanges of the post capsto'hold the latter in position', as shown in Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 3, the uprights 9 are extended upwardly beyond theplates 2 of the panel units, and thegrooved or recessed portion-s ID ofthese extended portions serve to hold the marginal portions of a glasspanel 20.

Although the units ar shown as consisting partially of steel and.partially of glass, it will be understood that they may consist entirelyof steel, that is, the plates 2 may extend all the way up to thecornice, or they may consist entirely of glass, in which case, the glasspanels 20 will extend downwardly to the lower edge of the unit.

It will be noted that the panel halves are removably secured to theverticals and that the connection is representative of longitudinalmovement between the units and the verticals. As a result, the panelunits as a whole are nonrigid, and, therefore, not subject to damage inhandling, especially when lifted flat-wise. Panel units of the size andconstruction here considered are necessarily very heavy, and if liftedflatwise, there would be a tendency for them to become sprung or warpedif of rigid or semi-rigid construction. If the panel halves were to.,bewelded to the verticals, the structure would be rigid, and if the unitwere then to be picked up fiatwise, it would have a tendency to buckleand this buckle or warp could never be taken out.

Other modes of applying the principle of my.

invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change beingmade as regards'the structure herein disclosed, provided the meansstated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such statedmeans be employed.

'1 therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as-myinvention:

1. A panel unit for partitions and the like, comprising spaced plateshaving. reinforcing members secured to the rear surfaces thereof, Z-barssecured to said members adjacent the ends of the latter, verticalsengaging said Z-bars, said verticals being grooved to receive portionsof said bars, and means interconnecting said verticals for holding saidplates'inas'sembled relation.

2. A panel unit for partitions and i like structures, comprising spacedplates, vertically exending members secured to said plates and havingflange portions spaced from said plates, uprights engaging said platesand embracing the flange portions'of. opposite members, and meansinterconnecting said uprights,.:said means extending between saidflanges, 1 a

3. A panel unit for partitions andv like structures comprising spacedplates, members secured *to said plates and having flange port-ionsparallel with said plates and spaced from the, latter, end uprightshaving portions extending into the spaces between said flanges andplatestie-rods interconnecting said end uprights, saidtie-rods being inan intervening space between flange portions. of the members.

4. A panel unit for partitions and like structures, comprising spacedplates, horizontalv reinforcing members secured totherear surfacesthereof, vertically extending'ielements having a leg secured to saidhorizontal reinforcing memflanges extending beyond the vertical edges ofthe plates, said flanges providing seats for post caps.

6. A partition comprising panel units, each comprising spaced plates,uprights, horizontal reinforcing members secured to the rear surfaces ofsaid plates and carrying means for engaging said uprights, said uprightsengaging said means carried by the horizontal members to clamp saidplates together, said uprights being wholly within the plane of theplates and having flanges extending beyond the Vertical edges of theplates, clips engaging said flanges and holding said units in spacedparallel relation, and post caps flush with said plates and secured tosaid clips, said post caps having flanged portions engaging saidfirst-named flanges.

7. In a partition, spaced metal uprights, and half-panels removablysecured to said uprights, vertically extending elements each having aleg .connected to one said half-panel and another leg spaced internally,and said uprights being grooved centrally for the reception of thespaced internal legs.

8. In a partition, half-panels, vertically extending elements eachhaving ,a leg connected to onesaid half-panel and another leg spacedinternally, and spaced uprights having recesses centrally in theiropposed faces to engagethe spaced internal legs ,to hold thehalf-panels, and a glass panel also held bysaiduprights with itsmarginal edges disposed in. said recesses.

9. In a partition, halfepanels, horizontal reinforcing members securedto the rear surfaces thereof, vertically extending elements having legssecured to said horizontal reinforcing members and another leguspacedinternally and-having angularly extending margins, and end uprightshaving recesses centrally in heir. opposed faces to receive the spacedinternal legs and hold the half-panels, said uprights being extendedabove said half-panels, whereby glass panels may be mounted with theiredges in the recesses of the extended portions of the uprights,

10. In a partition, panel units, each comprising spaced metal uprightsand half panels, said uprights having recesses centrally thereof andmeans connected to said half panels and extending inwardly, part ofsaidineansbeing received in said recesses and clamped therein toremovably secure said half panels in a predetermined spaced relationshipwith respect to an opposite panel, and in the same vertical plane as anadjacent panel. I 1

11-. In a partition, panel units, each comprising spaced metaluprightsand half panels, said up rights .having recesses centrallythereof and means connected to said half panels and ex tending inwardly,part of saidmeans being received in said recesses and clamped therein toremovably secure said half-panels in a prede terminedspaced'relationship with respect to an opposite panel, and in the samevertical plane as an adjacent panel and a glass panel also held by saiduprights with its marginal edges disposed in said recesses, said glasspanel being interchangeable with two of said half panels. JOHN A.BOI-INSACK.

